A Christmas show in Florida turned chaotic as multiple drones collided mid-air and plummeted to the crowd below, injuring several people including a 7-year-old boy. The child was hit in the face by one of the rogue drones and was rushed to the hospital, where he was fighting for his life in the ER, as reported by the New York Post.
Footage of the incident was shared online by MosquitoCoFL, showing the drones flying in a synchronized pattern before the collision occurred, causing them to crash to the ground. Witnesses described the terrifying scene as drones fell from the sky, prompting the cancellation of a second show scheduled for the same night.
So apparently they had to cancel the 2nd drone show at #LakeEolaPark tonight and I wonder if the drones that got knocked out during the 1st show was the cause 😬 #Orlando pic.twitter.com/xxySjbkohy
— MosquitoCoFL Podcast (@MosquitoCoFL) December 22, 2024
The drone show was organized by Sky Elements Drones in collaboration with the City of Orlando. City officials are working with the vendor to investigate the cause of the incident, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting its own inquiry into the matter.
According to a report by Fox News, the FAA had granted permission for the holiday drone show, but the regulations for drone arrays and light displays require waivers due to restrictions on operating multiple drones simultaneously.
The mishap occurred at around 6:45 p.m. local time on December 21, leading to the cancellation of the subsequent show due to technical issues. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols and regulations when operating drones in public spaces.
